WWE SummerSlam 2011: Will Sheamus Stop Mark Henry's Rampage Through the Company?

Well, well, look who finally decided to grow a backbone.

The toughness of Sheamus has never been in question. The guy is legitimately tough, and looks as though if the match turned into a shoot, he could more than handle himself. He’s also as strong as an ox, and probably bench presses a Mini Cooper or two when he works out.

His skill in the ring has also never been in question. He’s a bruiser, his psychology is good and getting better. He knows who he is as a wrestler, and doesn’t feel the need to try and become Ricky Steamboat, because that is just not who he is.

The real issue surrounding Sheamus in recent months has been something different altogether, and concerns his future. For me, when I thought of Sheamus, I often found myself asking the same question.

OK, what now?

He had a run as WWE champion early on in his career with the company, and was pushed to the moon. He was supposedly a good friend of Triple H, as they often hit the gym together. Add to this the fact that he never seemed to get pinned, and there was no doubt about it, Sheamus was more than on his way, he was already there.

Then, he just began to flounder. The sophomore slump that inevitably seems to hit every young WWE Superstar after they’re given a first taste of fame struck Sheamus square in the face. Suddenly he couldn’t buy a win, and Santino Marella even pinned the guy.

No hate mail on that one, I happen to like Santino, it’s just the principal of the thing.

So, Mark Henry, the human weapon of mass destruction whose been, well, blowing up everything and everyone in sight recently, wanted some real competition. Who in their right mind would take on that task?

Before Teddy Long could say, "Holla Holla Playa," for the millionth time, Sheamus hit the ring, and preceded to mock the monster with his smug smile.

OK, so Sheamus, who five minutes ago was your typical cowardly heel who ran from Nexus rather than be a man and stand up to fight, is now interested in playing chicken with a Mack truck. Interesting change of heart on that one.

It will be a hard fought match, no doubt about it. No one has really been allowed to become any sort of real threat to Henry since he went on the warpath, and Sheamus is no pushover. "Hard hitting" will not begin to describe this contest.

But the only potential problem that I see lies not with Sheamus, but with Mark Henry.

When Henry first began his rampage on SmackDown, I sat back and watched with a bit of reservation. After all, this type of push has happened for Mark in the past, and has led all the way to pay per view matches, showcasing him as an unstoppable beast.

Then, at just the right time, or the wrong time depending whose side you’re on, the rug is pulled out from underneath him, and he ends up with nothing.

So, which is it? Is Mark Henry a jacked up Terminator, or just a cream puff with a bad attitude?

Indeed, I was one of those guys who really loved what he’s been seeing from Henry as of late, and I suppose I tried not to think about what happened with him before.

But, here’s Sheamus. He’s the one man who can stop Mark Henry. And if he does, is "The World’s Strongest Man" back down to nothing?

Maybe a better question is, has the entirety of Henry’s massive run thus far been in preparation to put Sheamus over? If Sheamus does stop Henry, as he most likely will, then think about the statement that’s making.

Mark Henry, the juggernaut of destruction who put out the 500-pound Big Show, has been untouchable by wrestlers, the general manager and the company, is stopped in his tracks by Sheamus while the crowd goes crazy.

To put it another way, Mark Henry does the favor, drifts back down to mid-card status, while Sheamus rides the push all the way back to the world title.

It’s still early, I know. This thing could go either way at this point. To be honest, perhaps too much work has been put into Mark Henry for anyone to come along and simply wreck it just like that.

I personally feel that this feud could bode well for both men, and there is no need for either one to come out with the short end. But, does WWE creative see it that way?

After all, when a guy the size and strength of Mark Henry meets the tougher-than-leather Sheamus, someone’s got to blink first. I just wonder who will be left with their eyes open.